#finger-slapping

Here I am with the week-end’s special in “Focusing on”! Today’s subject is the most subversive Japanese rock artist ever seen, because of his unexpected and poliedric musical evolution. He is known as Takemasa Ishihara, or Miyavi, born on 14th September 1981 in Konohana-ku, Osaka prefecture. Son of Korean father and Japanese mother, he started his musical path when he was 15, after that his dream of becoming a football player has been struck down by an injury. So he debuted on high school with the visual kei band Loop, but he became famous on 1999, when he joined the famous old-school visual band Duè le Quartz, which will disband on 2003. Then on the same year, he signed under the label known as PS Company and started his solo career. His musical genre is not so easy to define, as it ranges from pop, to rock, passing for acoustic, blues, a customized hip-hop, funk, techno and soul, where there’s a strong attention to the personal image, united to his rebellious and charismatic personality and he is famous especially for his style of playing guitar, known as finger-slapping. He debuted as solo artist with the first album Gagaku (Elegant music/Miyavi’s music), which I reviewed here, followed up by the singles Shindemo Boogie-woogie (Boogie-woogie though you are dead), Pop is dead, Jingle Bell and Jibun kakumei (My revolution).

The title-track has a fast rhythm, closer to a dance-rock sound, with fierce vocals and energetic guitar playing; the song is about an extreme desire of changing our own life. It has been followed by the singles Tariraritaratara and Coo quark cluck -ku ku ru-, the second album Galyuu (Self-taught), reviewed here, the singles Ashita, genki ni naare. (Tomorrow will be fine.), Rock no gyakushuu -Super Star no jouken-/21 sekikei koushinkyoku (Rock counterattack -Terms of a superstar-/21st century march) and Freedom Fighters -Ice cream wo motta hadashi no megami to, kikanjuu wo motta hadaka no ousama- (Freedom fighters -Barefoot goddesses who hold ice creams and naked kings who hold machineguns), the third album Miyavizm and the single Kekkonshiki no uta (Wedding song)/Are you ready to rock?.

The second title-track is probably the most famous song by Miyavi and expresses the talent of this incredible musician at the best, with a beating rhythm, strong vocals and piercing touches of guitar; the song is about the beauty and the energy which only rock music can really give. It has been followed by the single Señor, señora, señorita/Gigpig boogie.

The first title-track has an exotic touch, where Miyavi shows off his sensual and romantic side; the song is about a vampire who is courting his loved one. It has been followed by the singles Dear my friend/Itoshii hito (Beloved person) and Kimi ni negai wo (Wishing to you), the fourth album Myv☆Pops, the acoustic album Miyaviuta -Dokusou- (Miyavi’s songs -Acoustic-), the single Sakihokoru hana no you ni/Kabuki danshi (Like a flower in full bloom/Kabuki boys), the self-cover EP 7 Samurai Sessions -We’re Kavki Boiz- and the singles Subarashiki kana, kono sekai -What a wonderful world- and Hi no hikari sae todokanai kono basho de (In this place where neither the sun can reach).

The title-track, made in collaboration with the known musician Sugizo (who he will work with even in the project S.K.I.N.), shows off the softest side of Miyavi, with a slow-paced melody and deep vocals, for a really efficient ballad; the song is about a journey for searching the hope, represented by the sunlight. It has been followed by the fifth album Miyavi -This iz the Japanese Kabuki Rock-, the compilation Victory Road to the King of Neo Visual Rock and the single Survive.

In this song we assist to a sort of change for Miyavi’s music, which has become grittier and more extreme, exalting the energy of his guitar playing; the song is about a wolf who is hungry of love. It has been followed by the compilation Fan’s Best, the single Torture, the sixth album What’s My Name?, the EP with the same title, the singles Strong (Miyavi vs Kreva), Day 1 (Miyavi vs Yuksek) and Silent Anger (Miyavi vs Takeshi Hosomi), the first mini-album Samurai Sessions vol.1 and the single Ahead of the Light.

The title-track sees a stronger influence of Western music, in particular electronic and techno, with a catchy and fresh sound; the song is about a freaking dance, full of light and life. It has been followed by the seventh album Miyavi.

One of the lead-tracks, named Guard You, has a slower melody, closer to soul and ballad, accompained by a tender guitar and warm vocals; the song is about protecting who we love as ultimate goal of life. It has been followed by the singles Real? and Let Go, the eighth album The Others, the singles Mission:Impossible Theme and Afraid to be Cool/Raise Me Up and the ninth album Fire Bird.

Miyavi is surely one of the most acclaimed musicians of Japanese rock scene, one of the few who managed to kick off in the international stage, arriving even to change his own style for it. His fierce and raging rock music, which receives new and thrilling contaminations each time, has always been his trademark, incredibly helped by his eccentric image, characterized by freaking outfits in his visual era and going to not-so-causal wearing in recent times. Even if his latest releases seemed to lack of that bit of particularity which always characterized his works, Miyavi never stopped to be appealing in its own way, also in his mainstream approach. So even if most people don’t enjoy the works of the last two years, his musical past is always object of interest and entertainment for any Japanese rock fan and if you enjoy Takemasa Ishihara’s rebel sound, you should check out his latest compilation, entitled All Time Best “Day 2″, containing all his recent songs, plus a new one, named Live to Die Another Day.

Who might enjoy: who wants to listen to unpredictable rock melodies, filled by a fiery and rebel energy.

Recommended songs: Jibun Kakumei, Are you ready to rock?, Señor, señora, señorita, Itoshii hito, Hi no hikari sae todokanai kono basho de, Survive, Day 1, Ahead of the Light, Horizon and Guard You.

That’s all folks! See you on Tuesday for the first part of April’s themed week in “Lyrical Love”!

Thanks for the reading!